Forming device



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ATTORNEYS J. C DENNESEN ETAL FORMING DEVI CE WWW'W- May 17, 1966 Filed July 29, 1965 United States Patent 3,251,318 FORMING DEVICE Joseph C. Dennesen, 62 Bridge St., Beverly, Mass.; Lawrence H. Teel, 1 Palmer Road, Marblehead, Mass.; and David Wolf, 67 Brackett Road, Newton, Mass.

Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,160 4 Claims. (Cl. 107-47) This invention relates to forming devices and more particularly comprises a novelty device for forming lollipops from other confections made of yieldable substances. This invention is an improvement over the devices disclosed in the copending application of Joseph C. Dennesen and Lawrence H. Teel, Serial No. 298,159, filed of even date herewith.

This invention is provided primarily for the enjoyment of children and allows them to eifectively recast a candy having a formable consistency into a lollipop. Made as a toy, it can typically transform a Tootsie Roll or a caramel candy into a lollipop. The device peculiarly lends itself to the promotional advertising of the candy which it may transform, particularly if the device is manufactured inexpensively and is capable of performing its function without any danger to the user or contamination of the candy.

One important object of this invention is to provide a novelty device which may be used effectively in the promotion and sale of confectionery.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a molding device for transforming the shape of candy and when desired, for casting the candy about a stick to con- .vert the confection to a lollipop.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a candy molding device having a minimum number of parts, all of which may be mass produced at a very low unit cost from very inexpensive material.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a candy molding device which may be operated by a very young child with complete safety.

Still another important object of this invention is to' provide a candy molding machine operable by a youngster and which may be made in a very wide variety of shapes, such as rockets, dolls, animals, etc.

To accomplish these and other objects the device includes a body closed at one end and open at the other for receiving an axiallymovable ram. The closed end of the body and the facing end of the ram together define a molding cavity for the lollipop. A recess is provided in the ram for receiving a portion of the lollipop stick. When the stick is positioned in the recess, one end extends into the cavity and as the cavity is closed that end of the stick remains in the cavity so that the candy is molded about it.

These and other objects and features of this invention along with its incident advantages will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof, selected for pur- I poses of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of forming device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 22'in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 35 are views showing the manner in which the forming device of FIGS. 1' and 2 is used to make a lollipop; and 1 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of this invention.

The embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 is shaped as a rocket. The actual device may be approximately 6" inlength and preferably is made of an extremely inexpensive material suitable for the intended use, such as polystyrene. Made of such material, each component of the device may be conveniently molded to shape for mass production. In this preferred embodiment the device is made of a total of 3 parts; namely, a body 10, a ram 12 and a die 14.

The body 10 is composed generally of a cylindrical section 16 and a stem 18 extending upwardly from the cylindrical section. The lower portion 20 of the cylindrical section 16 is internally threaded, and the ram 12 is provided with a threaded portion 22 which screws into the portion 28 of the body. Thus, when the ram 12 is turned in the body, the ram moves axially with respect to it.

The cylindrical wall 24 which comprises the cylindrical portion 16 of the body defines a chamber 26 above .the threaded portion 20. The upper end 28 of the ram slides on the smooth inner surface 30 of the wall 24 as the ram is turned and moves axially in the body.

The stem portion'lS of the body 10 serves as a cap to close the upper end of the chamber 26. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, an opening v3 2 extends axially through the stem and communicates with the chamber 26. Seated in the chamber 26 at its upper end is the die 14 which serves to partially shape the confection deposited in the body. The forming surface 34 of the die 14 is hemispherical and consequently will impart that particular shape to the confection being formed. The upper end 28 of the ram which faces the die 14 is also provided with a casting surface 36. In the embodiment shown the casting surface 36 is somewhat less than a hemisphere and consequently the cavity 38 in part defined by the surfaces 34 and 36 is also defined in part by the smooth surface 30 of the chamber 26.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the surfaces 34 and 36 constitute the major forming-surfaces for the candy being shaped by the device. When the ram is screwed into the body 10 to the point of deepest penetration, the surfaces 34 and 36 are positioned to mold any yieldable material deposited between them. An elongated recess 40 in the ram 12 oriented radially with respect to the cavity 38 is provided to hold the stick of the lollipop about which the confection is to be shaped. The recess 40 is somewhat shorter than the stick length so that a stick deposited in the recess 40 extends beyond the surface 36 and into the cavity 38 when the ram is in its elevated position. As the lower end 42 of the recess is closed the stick moves upwardly with the ram to insure. that the candy is cast about the stick end.

Because of the particular shape of the surfaces 34 and 36 the lollipop formed by the device will be generallyspherical in shape. However, it is to be understood that other dies 14 may be used to form other shapes. Moreover, the ram surface 36 may be other than a portion of a hemisphere to give the lower end of the lollipop a different configuration. It is desirable that the surface 36 of the ram define less than half the spherical body if in fact the shape formed is a sphere, and in any case the surface 36 should generally taper in a downward direc-. tion and all undercuts should be avoided so that the surface 36 may be separated from the candy without marring the shape in which the candy is cast by the device. In the embodiments shown the cavity defining surface of the ram is in fact less than half a sphere. Nevertheless, the entire cavity defines a sphere, as the peripheral edges of the surfaces 34 and 36 are spaced apart so that the inner surface 30 of the wall 24 defines a band which forms a portion of the cavity. This will be better understood and appreciated from the description of the manner in which the device is used, which follows.

When a youngster wants to make a lollipop he unscrews the ram 12 from the body 10 so that the two parts are wholly separated. The fins 44 on the body 10 and the base or fins 46 on the ram 12 serve as convenient handles to facilitate turning of the two parts with respect to one another. When the parts are separated the youngster places the stick about which the candy is to be molded in the recess 40 and deposits the candy, such as a caramel or Tootsie Roll in the chamber 26 as shown in FIG. 3, and he then screws the ram into the chamber. When the ram reaches the point of deepest penetration as shown in FIG. 4, the candy, regardless of its initial shape, will have the configuration defined by the surfaces 3 4 and 36 of the die and ram respectively, and the portion of the cylindrical surface 30 in contact with the candy, if that surface is exposed.

After the lollipop is fully formed, the youngster unscrews the ram from the body. Because the area of contact with the surface 34 exceeds that with the surface 36, the lollipop may well remain within the chamber 26. However, when the ram is removed from the body the stick will be accessible so that the youngster may pull the lollipop out by pulling directly on the stick. If the stick loosens from the candy ball, the youngster may insert a probe in the opening 32 in the stem 18 and force the die 14 out of the chamber 26 as suggested in FIG. 5. In this way the lollipop may readily be forced out of the body.

The opening 32 in the stem 18 is primarily provided to facilitate removal of the die 14 from the chamber 26 in the body. Because in most cases the lollipop after being formed adheres to the surface 34, it is advantageous to provide the opening so that the die may be moved in the chamber and serve as a piston to push the lollipop out of the body. It may also be desirable to remove the die 14 from the body so that another die may be substituted for it. For example, the surfaces 34 may be provided with protrusions and/or depressions to cast monograms, faces, or designs in the lollipop formed. The device may be sold with a variety of dies 14 to allow the youngster using the toy to make a number of different forms, and the opening 32 in the stem 18 facilitates removal of the dies when they are to be changed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 does not include the die 14 and consequently it is composed of justtwo parts; namely, the body 50 and ram 52. The body 50 is generally the same shape as the body 10 of the preferred embodiment, but its end which is substantially closed by the stem 54 is provided with a casting surface 56 as an integral part thereof which is hemispherical in shape to perform the function of the surface 34 of the die 14 in the preferred embodiment. The ram 52 is provided with a casting surface 58 of the same shape as the surface 36 of the ram 12 in the preferred embodiment, and the surfaces 56 and 58 together define the molding cavity 60. In this embodiment no special recess is provided in the ram for assuring the proper position of the stick of the lollipop with respect to the cavity 60. However, an opening 62 is provided in the hollow ram 52, which extends through the surface 58 and communicates with the cavity 60. As a result, when the lollipop is being formed a youngster may insert the stick through the opening 62 into the cavity 60 and if the candy is not too hard, the stick may be held in place. Alternatively, the stick may be inserted through the opening 64 in the stem 54 to achieve the same purpose. The opening 64 also permits a probe to be inserted in the chamber of the body to remove the formed lollipop if it adheres to the surface 56 of the body when the ram is unscrewed.

in each of the embodiments illustrated, material is saved by providing recesses or depressions in the ram. As a result, the cost of manufacturing the toy is reduced, so that it may even be distributed as a premium item by those confectionery manufacturers who desire to use the toy as a sales promotion device. It will also be appreciated from the foregoing description that while the two embodiments shown are shaped in the form of rockets,

they may with equal facility be shaped as dolls, airplanes, etc. The particular shape in which the toy is manufactured will be determined by the market in which it is used. The device may be manufactured extremely inexpensively for it basically is composed of just two parts; namely, the ram and body. The die 14 in the preferred embodiment may be eliminated although its interchangeability adds to the appeal of the device.

Having described two embodiments of this invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other modifications may be made of it without departing from its spirit. Therefore, we do not intend to limit the scope of this invention to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. A lollipop making device comprising a body having a cylindrical portion internally threaded inpart and closed at one end,

a ram threaded into the threaded portion of the body and movable toward and away from the closed end,

a cavity defining member having a cavity defining surface normally disposed in the body adjacent its closed end in the cylindrical portion thereof,

a cavity defining surface forming part of the ram and facing the surface of the member, said surfaces together defining a cavity for shaping the confection of a lollipop,

a recess in the ram for receiving a portion of the lollipop stick and holding an end of the stick in the cavity when a lollipop is formed therein,

and an opening provided through the closed end of the body for inserting a probe to remove a lollipop from that end.

2. A lollipop making device as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said member having a hemispherical surface which defines a portion of the cavity and said ram surface being a portion of a sphere and less than a hemisphere.

3. A lollipop making device comprising a body shaped like a rocket having a cylindrical portion internally threaded in part and closed at one end,

a ram threaded into the threaded portion of the body and movable toward and away from the closed end,

a cavity defining member having a cavity defining surface normally disposed in the body adjacent its closed end and movable axially in the cylindrical portion thereof,

a cavity defining surface forming part of the ram and facing the member, said surfaces together defining a cavity for shaping the confection of a lollipop,

a recess in the ram for receiving a portion of the lollipop stick and holding an end of the stick in the cavity when a lollipop is formed therein,

and a stem extending coaxially with and forming part of the body and having an opening provided through the closed end of the body for insertion of a probe and thereby moving the member from that end.

4. A candy shaping device comprising a body made of one piece and having a cylindrical section internally threaded in part and closed at one end,

a ram made of one piece threaded into the threaded portion of the body and movable toward and away from the closed end,

surfaces provided in the body and ram together defining a forming cavity for the candy when the ram is screwed into the body,

a recess provided in the ram for receiving a portion of a stick with a portion of the stick disposed in the cavity when the ram is screwed fully into the body,

and means defining an opening in the body through the closed end for inserting a probe to remove candy 1,756,375 4/1930 Million 1078.1 f d in the body by the surfaces 3,008,235 11/ 1961 Royer et a1 107--47 X 3,059,273 10/1962 Blevins 46-46 X 5222"? g gg g IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

E ST T EN ROBERT E. PULFREY, WALTER A. SCHEEL, 693,631 2/1902 Tilden et a1. 107-46 Examiners, 1,392,863 10/ 1921 Webke 1078.1 I OSEPH SHEA, Assistant Examiner. 

4. A CANDY SHAPING DEVICE COMPRISING A BODY MADE OF ONE PIECE AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SECTION INTERNALLY THREADED IN PART AND CLOSED AT ONE END, A RAM MADE OF ONE PIECE THREADED INTO THE THREADED PORTION OF THE BODY AND MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CLOSED END, SURFACES PROVIDED IN THE BODY AND RAM TOGETHER DEFINING A FORMING CAVITY FOR THE CANDY WHEN THE RAM IS SCREWED INTO THE BODY, A RECESS PROVIDED IN THE RAM FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF A STICK WITH A PORTION OF THE STICK DISPOSED IN THE CAVITY WHEN THE ARM IS SCREWED FULLY INTO THE BODY, AND MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING IN THE BODY THROUGH THE CLOSED END FOR INSERTING A PROBE TO REMOVE CANDY FORMED IN THE BODY BY THE SURFACES. 